Newtown, CT – Newtown Action Alliance released the following statement in response to another tragic mass shooting in the United States of America.

“Our hearts are broken for the families impacted by the worst mass shooting in Texas history. We send our love and support to the community of Sutherland Springs. We know firsthand that the road to recovery and healing for the community will be long and difficult.

When will America say enough and demand action? After the deadly Las Vegas mass shooting incident one month ago, America’s elected leaders offered up only thoughts and prayers and took no action to end the scourge of gun violence in America. The media and the majority of Americans quickly moved on after the deadliest mass shooting incident in modern U.S. history.

Meanwhile, the corporate gun lobby’s relentless pursuit of its guns-everywhere-to-anyone agenda has resulted in the number of gun deaths increasing to 38,000 in 2016. Americans should be horrified and scared that three of the five worst mass shootings in modern U.S. history occurred during the last year with two in the last month.

Regrettably, elected leaders are not the only ones culpable for the rising rate of gun violence in America. Until more Americans make gun violence prevention a priority and demand accountability from their elected leaders, there will be more and more horrific mass shooting incidents, everyday gun violence and gun suicides in all our communities.

We can do more to end gun violence in America. We implore all state and federal elected leaders to pass these sensible gun laws:

1. Background checks on sale of all guns2. Close the Charleston loophole or “delayed denial” where federally licensed dealers can sell guns if three business days pass without a verdict from the FBI3. Fix the National Instant Criminal Background Check system (NICS)4. Mandatory waiting period for gun purchases5. Gun violence restraining order/extreme risk protection order to temporarily prohibit an individual deemed by a judge to pose a danger to self or others, from purchasing or possessing firearms or ammunition and allow law enforcement to remove any firearms or ammunition already in the individual’s possession6. Handgun licensing, permitting, training, and registration7. Ban bump-fire stocks and other dangerous accessories8. Ban future manufacture/sale of assault weapons, regulate existing assault weapons under the National Firearms Act of 1934, and initiate a federal gun buyback program9. Limits on high capacity magazine10. Make gun trafficking a federal crime11. Repeal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) to eliminate the corporate gun industry special protection from civil justice law that no other industry enjoys12. Restrict and penalize firearm possession by or transfer to a person subject to a domestic violence protection order or a person (including dating partners) convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor13. Prohibit firearm sale or transfer to and receipt or possession by an individual who has: (1) been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor hate crime, or (2) received from any court an enhanced hate crime misdemeanor sentence.14. Repeal Dickey Amendment to adequately fund government research on gun violence15. Child access prevention/safe storage requirement16. Provide resources for people with mental illness17. Enhance accountability of federally licensed firearms dealers18. Microstamped code on each bullet that links it to a specific gun19. “Smart guns” with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or biometric recognition (fingerprint) capability20. Limit gun purchases to one gun per month to reduce trafficking and straw purchases21. Prohibit open carry22. Digitize ATF gun records23. Require licensing for ammunition dealers

Over 500,000 Americans have been killed or injured by guns and there have been more than 1,500 mass shooting incidents since the Sandy Hook shooting tragedy. Like the opioid crisis, gun violence is a public health emergency. Too many Americans are getting killed in public spaces. With 300 million guns in circulation and weak gun laws, all Americans should ask themselves ‘who’s next?’

We encourage all Americans to demand action from their elected representatives.”

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Newtown Action Alliance (http://alliance.newtownaction.org/) is a Newtown-based, national grassroots organization formed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. Our mission is to achieve the steady and continuous reduction of gun violence through legislative and cultural changes.

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